Shocking Flop: Jack Nicholson’s Top-Rated Film Disappoints Its Creator!

Today acknowledged as a towering achievement in psychological thrillers and horror cinema, “The Shining” remains a profound source of disappointment for its original creator. Although Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film is frequently hailed as one of the most significant works in the genre, Stephen King has never hidden his dissatisfaction with this adaptation of his novel.

A Masterpiece for Audiences, A Letdown for the Author

In the realm of horror films, few movies achieve as broad a consensus as “The Shining.” Certain scenes have become iconic, indelibly imprinting themselves on the collective consciousness. Yet, behind this nearly universal acclaim lies a significant discord: that of Stephen King himself.

The American novelist, accustomed to seeing his works translated to the screen, has never truly accepted the way Kubrick altered his story. From the moment the film was released, King voiced his concerns. During an appearance on David Letterman’s show in 1980, the author shared a mixed review of the director’s work.

“I think Kubrick did a fantastic job, but I have mixed feelings. There are many things in the film that I find perfect and beautiful, and at times, I feel like I handed a grenade to Stanley Kubrick, and he heroically threw himself on it.“

An Adaptation Deemed Too Far Removed from the Novel

Over the years, Stephen King has been even more critical. Thirteen years after the film’s release, he felt that “The Shining” was a missed opportunity, particularly because Kubrick had favored his own vision at the expense of the book’s essence.

“The movie that strayed significantly from my book and failed is ‘The Shining.’ And if I think it failed, it’s because Kubrick wanted to make the horror movie that would be the gold standard for horror films. And he didn’t take the time to truly grasp the novel’s atmosphere. It’s a failure due to hubris.“

Hubris, a term that refers to excessive pride or self-confidence, clearly reflects the depth of their disagreement.

The discord between the two was not just about a few narrative liberties. Stanley Kubrick chose to disregard the screenplay written by Stephen King, opting instead for a script co-written with Diane Johnson, preserving only certain elements of the novel to craft his own interpretation of the story.

A “Cold” Film, Far from the Spirit of the Book According to King

In multiple interviews, the novelist elaborated on what deeply troubled him about the adaptation. According to him, the film lost a crucial dimension of his work: the humanity of its characters and the emotional warmth that pervades his novels.

“I believe one of the things that readers are most attached to in my books is that there’s a warmth, inviting the reader to become part of the story. Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’ was very cold (…) In my novel, the hotel burns down; in Kubrick’s film, it freezes. (…) In the role of Wendy, Shelley Duvall is just there to scream and be foolish, and these are not the kind of women I write about.“

This was a particularly harsh critique of Shelley Duvall’s portrayal of Wendy, as well as the general tone of the film, which King felt was contrary to the atmosphere he had envisioned in his book.

Despite these repeated criticisms, “The Shining” remains one of the most celebrated adaptations of Stephen King’s works in cinema—even if the author himself continues to view it as a failure.

For fans, “The Shining” is now available for rewatching on streaming platforms such as HBO Max and Sooner, among others.

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